Hospitality where sustainability choices prevail

They are close to blowing out their 30th candle. We are talking about the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol, which since 1995 has represented the best wellness hotels in the Alpine arc, forerunners of the philosophy that has since become a response to the new needs of holidaymakers. A brand of the highest quality in the world of Alpine wellness holidays, the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol group now has 30 luxury hotels in South Tyrol. Each hotel, distinguished by its own identity, shares visions, values and quality criteria that represent the soul of the group. That of the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol has been, and continues to be, a success story, which in thirty years has continued its ascending climax to establish itself as the cooperation of the best wellness hotels in the Alps. The common thread has been the focus on the new needs of guests and the evolution in the way holidays are perceived. In fact, a renewed interest in environmental impact and an unprecedented search for authenticity and simplicity emerged, without ever neglecting the quality of luxury stays in 4-star Superior and 5-star facilities. Often amidst the evocative landscapes of South Tyrol, the hotels of the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol group offer an exclusive refuge for those seeking a relaxing and regenerating experience. Immersed in enchanting atmospheres surrounded by mountains, in some cases staying in one of them becomes a unique experience thanks to specialised treatments and physical activities designed for inner and outer wellbeing. From heated swimming pools to panoramic saunas to holistic paths, each facility is a corner where body and mind can regain their equilibrium.

The philosophy of the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol hotel cooperation hinges on three main pillars: "excellent quality, which has always distinguished us and made us a leader in the luxury hospitality sector, foresight and family management, which is the beating heart of the hotels and nurtures their authentic spirit," emphasises General Manager Michael Oberhofer. "In addition, a fourth pillar in our hotel vision is being consolidated: sustainability, a value to which the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol are approaching through sustainable measures aimed at respecting the environment and employees" - is echoed by General Manager Alois Kronbichler. As the two managers explain, thedoor to joining the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol is always open, as long as quality criteria are met. "The selection process is initiated by the individual high-end hotel businesses, which contact us expressing their interest in joining our cooperation. They themselves use a special check-list to assess whether they meet the required prerequisites,' Kronbichler clarifies. If the candidate hotels have all the prerequisites and meet the minimum criteria, the association comes into play by initiating a strict quality check to ensure that each member of the group is able to carry the name of Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels Südtirol high and live up to our corporate values. "Sustainability, like all valuable topics, will take time and effort to mature and establish itself as a lifestyle in its own right. Generally speaking, we can say that certain factors, such as the strategic location of our hotels in close contact with nature and the deep sense of belonging to the beauty of our land, help us in the process of raising awareness of respect for the resources of the land, but there is still a long way to go and we will have to join forces,' Oberhofer adds. 'Each of our member hotels does its best and makes its own small contribution to a greener approach, but in the future we hope to be able to do even more, creating a sustainable, broad and homogenous vision,' concludes Kronbichler.

Among the associates of the Belvita Leading Wellnesshotels is the Cyprianerhof Dolomit Resort, a five-star hotel surrounded by the wonderful mountains of the Sciliar-Catinaccio Nature Park, founded in 1962 by the Damian family and characterised by a strong bond with nature and the environment, which has been committed to sustainability issues for years. "Since 2014, together with the Terra Institut in Brixen, we have been drawing up our Sustainability Report to define our commitment in environmental, social and economic terms from year to year," explains Michael Damian, hotel manager of the Cyprianerhof. - We have achieved the South Tyrolean Sustainability Seal level 1 and are working towards level 3, the highest, which is equivalent to the GSTC certification. We also recently won the Hotel Sustainability Award, taking 1st place in the category Sustainable Tourism Pioneers 360°For us, the focus on sustainability goes back a long way: my parents started paying attention to this issue almost 40 years ago. On a day-to-day basis, all our choices are reviewed under the aspect of sustainability and we always try to make 'smart' decisions to really protect the environment. Over the years, we have developed effective strategies and we have discussed many times internally how we can be more sustainable: we have eliminated plastic as much as possible, our swimming pool is filtered using a salt electrolysis process that allows us not to use chemicals, the entire facility is heated with a woodchip system, and we have photovoltaic panels on our roof for about 230 kW. Sustainability at the Cyprianerhof is also interpreted in a social key through hour flexibility and shift organisation to promote work-life balance, personal and professional training, continuous internal dialogue aimed at improving and increasing the efficiency of processes and activities, as well as economic benefits. Furthermore, Cyprianerhof is working to obtain the Austrian certification 'Ausgezeichnet Arbeitgeber Tourismus', i.e. Employer of Excellence in Tourism, by the end of the year.